Execution set for April 25
In 1983, Pedro Solis Sosa (then 31) and his 17-year old nephew Leroy Sosa kidnapped Deputy Ollie F. Childress Jr., murdered him, and robbed a bank.
Police arrested Pedro Sosa on February 3, 1984, at which time he signed a written confession admitting his guilt. Leroy Sosa also signed a written confession soon after his arrest on December 19, 1983, which was consistent with the key elements of Pedro’s confession. Additionally, Leroy Sosa testified at Pedro’s trial that his uncle shot Deputy Childress.
Pedro Sosa has been on Texas Death Row for way too long, mostly because he has become a master of manipulating and abusing the appeals process. But on April 25, it looks like Pedro will finally pay the price for his brutal murder of Deputy Childress.
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A summary of Pedro’s crime:
Sosa and his nephew abducted Officer Childress and drove his patrol car, with the officer in the trunk, to the LaVernia State Bank, which they robbed of $51K. The robbers then drove to a secluded area and shot Childress once in the neck with his own .44-caliber revolver while handcuffed in the trunk.
Sosa and his nephew then fled in their own vehicle, but returned a short time later to wipe the partrol car clean of their prints. Finding Officer Childress still alive, Pedro shot the officer a second time in the neck.
***
Ironically, one of Pedro’s appeals states:
his prolonged stay on death row violates his rights under both the Eight and Fourteenth Amendments and the International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Unfortunately for Sosa, “No American court had held that the Eight Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment or the terms of the ICCPR prohibits the execution of a convicted capital murderer who has successfully avoided multiple execution dates by filing actions in state and federal court collaterally attacking his conviction and sentence.
Further, “The only impediments to Texas carrying out Petitioner’s sentence that have arisen since the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Petitioner’s conviction and sentence in 1989 have been of Petitioner’s own creation.
Got something you want to say?
Why, yes. First, I would cut off his nuts.
This cruel and unusual argument California doesn’t even buy into. It’s like the proverbial story of the guy who murders his parents and then demands mercy because he is an orphan.
I think Pedro Sosa is innocent.
His confession was torn out under duress, with threats for both him and his wife.
He was not aware of his Miranda Rights and was not told about them when arrested.
He could not read or write properly, only learned that in prison.
There were no fingerprints of him.
His IQ is rather low, 66, which already is under the level of 70 indicating a mentally retarded person.
He says he was set up. – As there are actually several cases of lying witnesses, including set ups by attorneys etc., and innocent people have both been condemned and executed these cases should be dealt with care. – Several cases are not made public!
I do not think that killing a person brings the other back or solves really the problem, which is retribution.
I as the granddaughter of the cop he did kill in cold blood. Would like you to know he had a tx drivers license so you tell me what mentally retarted person could get a drivers license and you are just stupid!!!!!!!!!
Of course when you test him again he will get all the answers wrong duhhhhh..
That is what his case is on him being dumb.
Can I talk to my grandfather NO. So why the hell should he get to go on tv and spred his lies and get to talk to his family..He robbed my children from knowing there grandfather yes he should be punished.
He wore my granfathers police shirt to rob the bank and they have that on tape..I guess my grandfather being handcuffed just shot his self!!!!!!! Idiot.
Lora: The Texas Execution Information Center website has him flagged as to close to the end of his appeals. If you have additional info, keep us informed.
http://goo.gl/z9hs
Oh, give it a rest! This creep was criminally sophisticated. He flagged down a police car to use in a bank robbery. He kidnaped the officer. He attempted to take two women hostages during the robbery. He drove back to his car and shot the officer who was still in the trunk. Why? So there would be no witnesses. He left, but returned because he forgot to wipe down the patrol car of any prints he might have left behind. Finding the Officer alive, he shot him again. This is the disgusting piece of shit you make up lies for.
He has yet to show any evidence of coercion and that it caused him to confess. He was advised of his Miranda rights TWICE – at the time of his arrest and again before his custodial interrogation. At no time has he presented evidence that he did not understand his Miranda rights or that his waiver of Miranda was anything but voluntary.
Good riddance to garbage.
So, who are you – Anonymous ?
A person who thinks cop killers earn the right to be executed.
Nobody earns the right to be executed. We are not God.
Death penalty is deeply racist and affects the poor only. Those who commit other serious crimes, kill more than one person, instigate murder, get away with it if they have enough money, you know that this happens often, it is all a matter of money !!!
This cannot be a fair legal system.
A fair system also cannot allow racist prejudices etc. to be allowed or to be spread.
Innocent people have been executed – and the State does not take consequences in many cases.
I ‘thought’ you were someone deeply involved in the case, knowing the facts from first hand, a p0lice officer, or a family member or friend. I could understand your feelings, but the question is if killing people is right at all. We are not God.
Christ clearly disagrees of executions.
Since the death penalty was reinstated in the US in 1972 — please name one person who was executed who was subsequently found to have been found innocent of his/her crimes.
Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Please provide links to the evidence and legal documents that cleared the murder(s) you claim were innocent.
Tick tock. Tick tock.
That’s what I thought.
Nobody earns the right to be executed. We are not God.
People sure do earn the right to be executed. And when people get away with it, it is due to dorks like you sitting on a jury who can’t think their way out of a paper bag. If anything, our system of justice is too fair.
I ran across this the other night. Note how from the time of arrest to the time of his execution was under 3 years. We need to try, appeal, and execute murderers faster. http://www.prairieghosts.com/peace.html
I ‘thought’ you were someone deeply involved in the case, knowing the facts from first hand, a p0lice officer, or a family member or friend. I could understand your feelings, but the question is if killing people is right at all.
I don’t need you to understand my feelings. I have the greatest respect for law enforcement officers. Typical, that a person like you would find that difficult to understand.
[...] *** Speaking of monsters, doesn’t Pedro Solis have a date with a gurney tonight? [...]
Solis got a stay based on at Atkins claim. Unfortunately for him, he doesn’t have a chance of prevailing.
To the person who says Christ disagrees with executions please see the following scripture (King James Version):
Exodus 21:16: “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death”
Numbers 36:30: “Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty”
Deuteronomy 17:6: “Whoever is worthy of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses, but he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness”
Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God”
I can find more if you would like. The Bible DOES endorse the death penalty. Since the Bible is the Word of God, God endorses the death penalty. Where do you think “An Eye for an Eye, A Tooth for a Tooth” came from?(Exodus 21:24)
Pedro Sosa will be executed some day. Maybe September 25th will be the time. This current stay is I believe is fourth or fifth stay.
[...] Convicted and condemned cop killer, Pedro Solis was scheduled to die yesterday for the 1983 murder of a Wilson County (TX) sheriff’s deputy. [...]
Exodus 21:16: “He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to deathâ€
So how many white people need to be executed then who have instigated and executed slavery and abducted thousands and thousands of African people to America, abused, raped them, put them in shackles, and violently killed them.
What should happen to them?
(The Anglican Church has by now apoligized for their participation in slavery)
By the way, this is old testament, i am talking of the new one (gospel).
Do you still want to kill people like they demanded it in Minor Asia some 3500 years ago, like they do it in Iran, in China. When you cite this, pls see the context.
Probably innocent and executed:
Ruben Cantu, Texas
Cameron Todd Willingham…
Police officers, law enforcement:
I do have high respect for anyone who sets his life at risk to help people and try to prevent crime.
I have no respect for law enforcement who abuse their power or who do not work diligently.
I
Definitely not innocent, but definitely executed: Cantu and Willingham.
first: of all it Pedro Sosa not Solis that’s his middle name.
second: I know Leroy Sosa who was and always will be a “me first person”
third: he lied because what i herd he was the guy who shot the officer…
so we should know all the facts before we make comments
First, who cares what his name is.
Second, it’s heard not “herd.”
Third, who cares what you heard. What matters is the evidence at trial.
You should learn the facts before YOU comment: Pedro Solis committed capital murder and will be executed.
i think the man should be left alone you can not kill one person if there was 2 involved and two wrongs dont make a right this is so wrong look at all the people that were let off of death row did you ever think of that maybe he didnt do it or maybe he did is that the point we kill because someone else does? i cant believe all the people that think it is ok to kill or hurt its not ok people on death row should be there because there is proof and a confession by the person just last year there were 8000 people let out of death row all over the world the is crazy people that were in jail for years let pedro go he is not the one look at his nephew he said he did it why is he not on death row? god bless you pedro tem pessoa aqui quem acredita em voce ok com Deus
Please shutup!!!!!! he is the one. Who killed Sammy Childress. You need to get your facts straight and they will NOT let him out!! If they do this country has gone to shit! He killed a cop who was protecting people!! Let him out….what the hell!!
i think the man should be left alone . . .
Thank God what you think is irrelevant. Sosa lost his Atkins claim and will be given a new date as soon as the USSC lifts the stay.
I read the details of this case some time ago; the account from the prisoner, the accusers, all the way to the comments above. And from what i understand, the argument against his execution, and even his inprisonment, is that everyone conspired to put him in jail. And Sosa is not the only one who believes this. To those that favor his stay of execution, do you really think that law enforcemtn, prosecutors, witnesses, and the judge were in on this? Seriously, everybody? I don’t think so. You say that God disagrees with executions. Well God doesn’t have to live with these assholes, does he?
Has his date been set yet?
Not that I am aware of. However, he is on the 2008 execution watch list so, it will be a lot sooner than later.
The loving liberals and do gooders will tell us, these poor people are all products of a savage State and deserve fair justice. Pedro Solis Sosa is the victim of a dreadfull crime………and so on they go.
What gets me is that this piece of shit says he is inocent like all the other scumbags on death row. most of these inuman cretures spend there lives telling us how bad they are treated and how nice they really are. The pen pal requests are laughable. Lets face it these fuckers when caught seem to find god, yet they never show remorse to the victims. In the UK we dont have the death sentence and im glad but this Sosa and his like deserve nothing from society accept utter contempt.
Any word on what the status for this inmate?
It is difficult for anyone to effectively second guess the jury, judge,and counsel that were present at the trial and heard the evidence, especially any evidence about being framed or possible other culprits, etc. In his request for pen pals, Sosa writes:
“last job was with a construction company. I started there as an auto and diesel mechanic, and ended as their do it all. As I loved earning my money working for it.”
Concerning a side job as a contractor for home repair for those who couldnt afford it, he writes:
“But much as hate to admit it, I was kinda a Robin Hood guy. I asked them first and told them the truth that I would have to steal the materials they needed, and giving it all to them, all they had to pay was my helpers was a crate of beer and a supper when the job was done!”
See: http://www.lampofhope.org/778.html
These skills and abilities do not appear consistant with an IQ below the definition of retardation. Also, I have not seen any of the pleas for innocent, etc. aknowledge and/or explain the fact that his nephew corroberated the confession and is also in jail for the same crime. There is no question that the nephew was involved, and the inmate/uncle argues that it wasnt him with the nephew; rather, it was another relative or person. Has the nephew recanted?
This fact pattern just does not mirror those where DNA has proved innocence. The pleas posted here set up the choice or arguement as to whether a criminal’s intelligence to wipe clean finger prints precludes the criminal’s eligibility from certain punishments including capital and life without parole–or stated another way, Is capital punishment only available for those not smart enough to wipe their prints?